A comprehensive review published in Science China Life Sciences by a collaborative team led by Prof. Wenjie Shu (Bioinformatics Center of AMMS) et al. highlights that Protein Foundation Models (pFMs) have emerged as game-changers in life science.

These AI tools, trained on large-scale datasets, can predict protein characteristics and design new proteins with desired functions. This review explores the progress, uses, challenges, and future of pFMs. It looks at the diverse data—from genetic sequences to 3D structures and functional information—that these models learn from. It covers key AI methods and highlights real-world impacts in research, protein design, and medicine. The article also discusses major challenges, including data scarcity and the complexity of validating model outputs. Looking ahead, the review highlights promising developments, such as modeling protein interactions and building virtual cell systems, which have the potential to enpower the next generation of bioengineering. This comprehensive overview serves as both a valuable resource for computational researchers and a strategic reference for scientists using these tools in related fields.

Just as avalanches on snowy mountains start with the movement of a small quantity of snow, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has discovered that a solar flare is triggered by initially weak disturbances that quickly become more violent. This rapidly evolving process creates a ‘sky’ of raining plasma blobs that continue to fall even after the flare subsides.

MXene derivatives are notable two-dimensional nanomaterials with numerous prospective applications in the domains of energy development. MXene derivative, MBene, diversifies its focus on energy storage and harvesting due to its exceptional electrical conductivity, structural flexibility, and mechanical properties. This comprehensive review describes the sandwich-like structure of the synthesized MBene, derived from its multilayered parent material and its distinct chemical framework to date. The fields of focus encompass the investigation of novel MBenes, the study of phase-changing mechanisms, and the examination of hex-MBenes, ortho-MBenes, tetra-MBenes, tri-MBenes, and MXenes with identical transition metal components. A critical analysis is also provided on the electrochemical mechanism and performance of MBene in energy storage (Li/Na/Mg/Ca/Li–S batteries and supercapacitors), as well as conversion and harvesting (CO₂ reduction, and nitrogen reduction reactions). The persistent difficulties associated with conducting experimental synthesis and establishing artificial intelligence-based forecasts are extensively deliberated alongside the potential and forthcoming prospects of MBenes. This review provides a single platform for an overview of the MBene’s potential in energy storage and harvesting.